Foldable closure



w. A. SHEARER April-1o; 1945.

FOLDABLE CLOSURE Filed sept. 25, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 1 April 10, 1945. w. A. sHEARl-:R

FOLDABLE CLOSURE Filed sept. 25, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 2 IB. 3 Zz,

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w. A. sHEARl-:R 2,373,146 FOLDABLE cLosURE Aprill 1o, 1945.

Filed sept. 25; 194s 4' sheets-sheet s 5 El 564 l yf l l mVENToR April l0, 1945.

w. A. sHEARER 2,373,146

FOLDABLE CLOSURE Filed sept. 25, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE FOLDABLE CLOSURE William A. Shearer, New Castle, Ind.

Application September 25, 1943, Serial No. 503,753

13 Claims.

This invention relates to foldable closures of the general type illustrated in prior Patents No. 2,220,939 dated November 12, 1940, and No. 2,321,507 dated June 8, 1943.

In said patents there is disclosed an articulated framework including a pair of superposed lazytongs structures with one or more parallel series of hinge plates suitably connected together and to said structures, same being suitably covered by fabric or like material, the resulting foldable closure being capable of suspension from an overhead track or otherwise suitably supported as recited in said patents.

The foldable closure of the present invention is broadly of similar character, to-wit, it collapses and extends to expose or close the opening, respectively, it may be track supported, it may be permanently or semi-permanently attached to a wall of the opening and it may be fabric or like covered upon one or both sides as desired. So far as the operator is concerned it functions like the patented structures.

The chief object of the present invention, therefore, is to retain all the aforesaidr structural advantages of said patented structures and at the same time accomplish such results with a minimum number of parts and this by the elimination of the force determining elements, to-wit, the lazy-tongs and this by including in the hinged plates such force determinating factors.

The chief feature of the present invention, therefore, resides in the utilization of a dual, lazy-tongs type, articulated. hinged plate single unit in lieu of a lazy-tongs and a single series of hinged plates.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the 'following description and claims:

4A is an elevational view thereof. 5 is a top plan view of a right, full hinge Fig. 6 is an elevational view of said plate shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a left, full hinge plate.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of said plate shown in Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a right, half hinge plate.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a hinge connector.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of the two intersecting hinge plates shown in Figs. 5 to 8 and in different assembling and disassembling positions.

In Fig. 1, I0 indicates one side wall of an opening, in Fig. 2, II indicates the opposite side wall thereof and in Fig. 3, I2 indicates the top of same and incorporated therein is the track I3 which is substantially similar to those illustrated in said patents.

A post I4 is semi-permanently attached to wall Il) and rigid therewith is the channel-sectioned member I5. Fabrics I6 and I'I have adjacent ends lapped and anchored between post I4 and member I5 and the latter is concealed thereby. Rigid with the interior of channel I5 is, see also Figs. 10 and 11, a hinge connector I 8 having a plurality of spaced cylindrica1 portions I9 longitudinally aligned and constituting a support for a pintle 20. The aforesaid constitutes the anchored end of the foldable closure.

Referring to Fig. 2, wall II has semipermanently secured thereto post 2l provided with groove 22. The other end of the foldable closure includes a tubular, movable post 23 covered by the other side edges of fabrics I6 and I1 and lapped and retained by the bumper structure including member 24 which mounts and from which projects cushion 25 for seating in recess 22 when the closure is extended.

Post 23, see Fig. 3, near its upper end pivotally supports at 26 a plate 21 that projects upwardly into the downwardly opening slot in track I3. Said plate Carries axles 28 upon the ends of which are mounted wheels 29 that ride the lower inside anges of the track. A cushioning structure may be provided as set forth in the later patent. Also intermediate track engaging guide and suplports, indicated at 30, may be provided. Note also that secured to the tubular post, opposite member 24, is a corresponding hinge connector I8 with pintle support portions I9 for a pintle 20.

T o the left hand hinge connector is secured a right hand and a left hand half hinge plate, see Figs. 4 and 9 respectively. Likewise two complementary half hinge plates are pivotally secured to the right hand hinge connector. Therebetween are secured the right and left hand hinge plates as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which plates are illustrated more fully in Figs. to 8 and 12 to 14 inclusive.

Fig. l illustrates the collapsed position of the several hingedly connected full and half plates. Fig. 2 illustrates the extended position of certain of the same. Each full plate is apertured at 3l, see Figs. 6 and 8, and each half plate similarly. These'apertures provide for connectors to be applied to the several plates and anchor the fabric sheets I6 and I1 thereto so that same follow the articulated hinging in its collapse and extension is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Such fabric connection is illustrated in tne earlier patent, although others may be utilized.

It is to be understood herein that,` at least one such hinging arrangement is utilized l'and this is at the top of the closure. If a second be utilized, and it usually is, same lits near the bottom Y of the closure. If desired, any number of intermediate series of hinging arrangements may be utilized therebetween.

Each hinge series is similarly mounted on the movable post 23 and stationary channel I5 as illustrated and by hinge connectors secured thereto. These superposed series of hinge plates can be connected vertically through elongated pintles, same mounting suitable washer like stops or retainers as shown in the later patent. This prevents progressive sag, although if desired, suitable center pintles may be extended upwardly as at 30, see Fig. 3, and mount track bearing rollers. Preferably the number thereof is not large, since the accumulation when collapsed might prevent complete collapse of the closure as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be noted that so far no mention of 40 lazy-tongs links has been made relative to the present invention. This is an intentional omission and simplification for the intersecting hinge plates have the dual function of serving as a lazy tongs and a successively hingled plate series.

While it is possible to utilize two hinged series of plates of relatively narrow depth and have one on one side and the other on the other side of what might be termed the projected lazy tongs outline, such will neither have the stability of a lazy tongs nor can same serve as a top edge support for the covers at both sides of the plates etc. nor compel proper folding at each fold, as with the patented structures and that herein disclosed.

The intersecting character of the hinge plates accordingly permits of this simplification and permits two hinge plates herein to simultaneously serve the same purposes as two crossed links and a hinge plate without track guidance of all center pintles.

The invention also contemplates thev biasing of the midportion of the several plates. same permitting the plates, with included fabric covering, to completely collapse without pinching or binding and such biased .portions cooperate when extended to abut and limit extended movement, leaving the fabric when extended with regular folds therein Reference will now be had to Figs. 4 and 9 wherein the two half hinges are illustrated in plan and Fig. 3 which illustrates the same in elevation. Herein 34 indicates the left half hinge' plate with angular offset portion 35 and cylin- In like manner the right hand half plate 38 includes biased portion 38 and opposite side edges .l

include the cylindrical pintle bearing portions 31 and 40 respectively. Two of these plates are intertted together and connected to the hinge connector I8 at I8 by means of pintle 20.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the socalled right hand plate is illustrated. Each plate includes a pair of wings or leaves 4I which extend parallel to each other and are offset end-to-end being connected by a central biased .portion 42, the angularity of same to the adjacent leaf being the same as in the corre sponding half hinge. The side edges of the leaves include cylindrical pintle bearing portions 43. Note, however, same at opposite sides of the plate are oiset or staggered.

The central biased portion 42 has an elongated longitudinally directed opening 44 therein and projecting laterally thereof across the biased portion 42 and into the leaf portion 4I are the oppositely directed generally triangular like extensions 45. Same may be extended further as indicated at 45A, see dotted lines as hereinafter pointed out. Herein biased portion 42 at each end includes a pair of longitudinally aligned, oppositely directed, semi-cylindrical pintle bearing portions 46 whereby a pintle may be self sustained in this plate without regard to any other plate.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 7 and 8 wherein is illustrated what may be termed the so-called left hand plate. Same includes parallel but similarly oflseil leaves or wings 50 joined by a central biased portion 5I including at opposite ends inwardly directed notches 52, leaving therebetween a portion 53 having a. length slightly less than the length of opening 44 in the other plate. This intermediate portion between the roots of said notches includes a plurality of parallel slits 54. This provides a plurality of pairs of longitudinally aligned semi-cylindrical pintle bearing portions 55, adjacent pairs of bearings being oppositely directed. Note in Fig. 8 the intermediate pair of bearings are integral and continuations of each other.

Whenever extensions 45A in the right hand plate are included the entrance to notches 52 need not be rounded as at 56 but may be square as shown dotted at 56A. The opposite side edges of the plate include` longitudinally aligned but spaced elongated cylindrical pintle bearing portions 51.

Figs. 12 to 14 illustrate how a pair of these diierent plates are progressively associated t0- gether or disconnected from each other. When fully associated, the plates intersect and a single pintle 58 simultaneously connects them together at their midpoints and seats in bearings 53 and 45. Pintles 59 connect the adjacent side edges of adjacent plates on one side of the closure and siml ilarly pintles 60 connect the adjacent side edges of adjacent plates on the opposite side of the closure.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein, as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended drical portions 35 and I6 at opposite side edges. 75 claims.

The invention claimed is: 1 l. A foldable closure including a sequentially Yconnected series of full length hinge plates, ar-

ranged in pairs, the plates of each having a, common pivotal connection midway, between the ends, the adjacent ends of adjacent plates having pivotal connection, for dual plate construction whereby the plates Serve as a lazy-tongs.

2. A foldable closure as defined by claim 1 wherein each plate includes a covering anchorage portion, and a covering for each side of the closure. K

3. A foldable closure as defined by claim l wherein a pair of half length plates have a, common pivotal connection at their adjacent ends and have their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the end plates of the sequential series of full length plates.

4. A foldable closure as' defined by claim 1 wherein a pair of half length plates have a common pivotal connection atV their adjacent ends and have their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of theend plates of thesequential series of full length plates, each half plate having a biased portion adjacent the common pivoted end and ,including said end.

5; A foldable closui'e as dened by claim 1 wherein each plate includes an intermediate biased portion, said portions permitting alignment when collapsed and limiting extension when extended.

6. A foldable closure asdeiined byv claim 1 wherein each plate includes an intermediate biased portion, said portions permitting alignment when collapsedV and limiting extension when extended, a pair of half length plates having'a common pivotal connection at their adjacent ends and having their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the end plates of the sequential series of full length plates.

7. A foldable closure as dened by claim 1 wherein each plate includes an intermediate biased portion, said portions permitting alignment when collapsed and limiting extension when extended, a pair of half length plates having a common pivotal connection at their adjacent endsl and having their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the end plates of the sequential series of iull length plates, each halll plate having a biased portion adiacent the common pivoted end and including said end.

8. A foldable closure as defined by claim 1 wherein each pair or plates has an intersecting association. one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other me into position for common pivotal connec- 9. A foldable closure as `deined by claim 1' wherein veach pair of plates has an intersecting association. one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other plate into position for common pivotal connection, each plate including a covering anchorage portion,.and a covering for each side of the closure.

10. A foldable c1osure\as dened by claim 1 wherein each pair of plates has an intersecting association, one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other plate into position for common pivotal connection, a pair of half length plates having a common pivotal connection at their adjacent ends and having their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the end plates of the sequential series of full length plates.

11. A foldable closure as dened by claim 1 .wherein each pair of plates has an intersecting association, one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other plate into position for common pivotal connection, and each plate includes an intermediate biased portion, said portions permitting alignment when collapsed and limiting extension when extended.

12. A foldable closure as dened by claim 1 wherein each pair of plates has an intersecting association, one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other plate into position for common pivotal connection, a pair of half length plates having a common pivotal connection at' their adjacent ends and having their other ends pivotally connected to the adjacent ends o! the end plates of the sequential series of full length plates, each half plate having a biased portion adjacent the common pivoted en'd and including said end.

13. A foldable closure as dened by claim 1 wherein each pair of plates has an intersecting association, one having a central opening for partially passing part of and pivoting the other plate into position for common pivotal connection, and each plate includes an intermediate biased portion, said portions permitting alignment when collapsed and limiting extension when extended, a pair of half length plates having a common pivotal connection at their adjacent ends and having their other ends plvotally connected to the adjacent ends of the end plates oi the sequential series of full length plates, each half plate having a biased portion adjacent the common pivoted end and including said end.

'WILLIAM A. SHEARER. 

